Recent findings on the academic achievement of Hispanic students are digested in this paper. Data are derived from the study, "Make Something Happen," which was conducted by the National Commission on Secondary Education for Hispanics, and presents comprehensive findings on Hispanic education drawn from a special analysis of the Hispanic cohort of the "High School and Beyond" national longitudinal study, findings from commissioned topic papers, site visits to inner-city schools across the country, and a variety of previously existing research. Findings are organized under the following headings: background; language instruction; the work-school linkage; and social supports and school-community ties. The digest concludes with a list of recommendations for improving high school education for Hispanics, including the following: (1) the provision of a strong academic core for all students; (2) English language instruction for all Hispanic high school students (but Spanish core curriculum courses for non-English speakers); (3) Spanish language courses to make Spanish speakers literate in Spanish; (4) counteracting the high number of Hispanic dropouts by increasing the schools' involvement in their students' needs and desires to work; and (5) increasing the amount of guidance counseling offered to Hispanic students, the number of Hispanic teachers and administrators, and schools' communication with Hispanic parents. (KH)